Nigeria, April 9 -- The Nigerian government has warned illegal miners to immediately vacate all sites in Zamfara State, citing a recent lead poisoning in Bugundu Local Government Area of the state.

Segun Tomori, the special assistant on media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement noted that all mining activities are still on hold until the release of standard operating procedures that will guide the resumption of exploration in the state.

Mr Alake, reacting to the report on lead poisoning, said the ban on mining in the state in the last six years meant there shouldn't have been any reason for lead poisoning.

He explained that the outbreak was evidence that tr...